The Sweeper: Arsenal look for striker in January after failing in Dzeko loan bid

Arsene Wenger is no longer interested in the Manchester City man despite a summer enquiry but he is targeting a new centre forward as an alternative to Olivier Giroud

THE

SWEEPER

TIDYING UP ALL THE LOOSE STORIES IN FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

ARSENAL MOVE FOR NEW CENTRE FORWARD AFTER FAILING IN DZEKO BID

Arsenal have set their sights on buying a new centre forward in the January window, but the Londoners will not make a second move to land Edin Dzeko, who, The Sweeper has learned, they attempted to sign in the summer.

It is understood that Arsenal tried to capture the Bosnian on a season-long loan in the last week of the August window but Manchester City rejected the offer after failing in attempts to bring in a replacement.

City would be willing to listen to offers for Dzeko in January but Arsene Wenger is no longer interested in pursuing a move for the 26-year-old, who was signed from Wolfsburg for €33.5 million in January 2011.

Wenger has identified reinforcing the striker department as one of his main priorities when the transfer window re-opens and has instructed his scouting network to compile a shortlist of realistic targets.

Arsenal's recently published financial results demonstrate that the club have cash reserves of €62m available to spend on new players next year.

Wenger wants an A-list striker to rival Olivier Giroud, the only orthodox spearhead in the first-team squad.

Lukas Podolski, the Gunners' other principal forward signing in the summer, has been used exclusively on the left flank this season and is not regarded as a candidate for a regular central striker role.

The same applies to Gervinho, even though he has had some success as the front man this season, scoring four of his five goals after starting as the fulcrum of the attack.

Wenger wants a more conventional No.9 who can complement Giroud and provide some of the goalscoring menace that has been absent since the departure of Robin van Persie.

Marouane Chamakh and on-loan pair Nicklas Bendtner and Park Chu-Young have no futures at the Emirates Stadium and will be sold if Arsenal's valuations can be met.

- Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

DE ROSSI & TOTTI KIDS JOIN ENGLISH SCHOOL

As Roma icons who have spent their entire senior careers at the club, Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti are regarded as the epitome of Rome identity.

But The Sweeper can disclose that both players have chosen to recently send their children to the same private bilingual school in the city, whose principal language is English.

However, father-of-two Totti and De Rossi, who has a daughter, are not preparing their offspring for imminent moves to England.

It is understood that the choice of school is purely to provide a grounding in a language that might open up more future career possibilities amid concerns about Italy's economic position.

- Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

BIG SAM WANTS TO LODGE AT SPURS

Tottenham and West Ham were embroiled in a bitter public battle last year to become the main tenants of the Olympic Stadium.

But The Sweeper can reveal that has not prevented Sam Allardyce from eyeing up Spurs' recently departed training headquarters as a possible answer to the Hammers' requirement for a more modern base.

The West Ham manager believes that Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, which had been Tottenham's base since former owner Alan Sugar funded a move there in 1996, is a considerable upgrade on his club's long-standing complex at Chadwell Heath in Dagenham.

Allardyce is believed to be trying to convince co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to take out a lease on Spurs Lodge.

Spurs, who fully own the site, say there have been no talks between the clubs but they might be looking for a tenant after spending €49.6m on a state-of-the-art facility in Enfield, into which they moved permanently last month.

- Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

LEICESTER KEANE ON ROY

Leicester City have record a 100 per cent home league record this season and lie just one place and one point behind leaders Cardiff City in the Championship table.

But it is understood that has not stopped the Thai-owned club from making an informal approach to Roy Keane.

Despite rejecting the chance to manage Turkish club Kasimpasa last week, Adrian Chiles' regular ITV sidekick is keen to return to management 21 months after being sacked by Ipswich Town.

Current Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is under great pressure to win promotion this season and is likely to pay with his job should the club's bid be even slightly derailed.